| Email, Letters, & Testimonials |
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St Petersburg Times |
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"Outfits such as Garner's Going the Distance Adventure Ministry are creating weekend getaways that combine prayer and Fear Factor. Since 1996, Garner has been turning Christians into weekend bungee jumpers, rock climbers and skiers." |
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-Matt Nelson (Reporter) |
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Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine |
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"If Garner was going to have a slogan tattooed on his forehead, it might be something like "No Fear Through God". His enthusiasm for Christianity and adventure, two concepts that he refuses to separate, borders on obsessive, and he's quick to insert the phrase "God-awesome" in any manner of conversation. |
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-Graham Averill (Writer) |
Webmaster 
September 4, 2009
Past email received from participant Jesika Nisly:
"I just wanted to say thanks for an awesome weekend. It was the getaway that I desperately needed. There's nothing like being in nature with people who love the Lord. It was challenging and refreshing. I always love GTD trips. I can't even explain in words how much I love and appreciate GTD. I don't have solid Christian friends up here to challenge and push me in, not just in the Lord, but physically as well. :) I need that though ... I LOVE IT!"
"I just wanted to say thanks for an awesome weekend. It was the getaway that I desperately needed. There's nothing like being in nature with people who love the Lord. It was challenging and refreshing. I always love GTD trips. I can't even explain in words how much I love and appreciate GTD. I don't have solid Christian friends up here to challenge and push me in, not just in the Lord, but physically as well. :) I need that though ... I LOVE IT!"
Webmaster
September 4, 2009
Past email received from Youth Pastor Todd Buhrmaster:
"I would like to share with you an amazing ministry our youth group is now involved in. It is called Going The Distance Adventure Ministry. Their mission is to use outdoor adventures to introduce kids to a personal relationship with Jesus, and for kids already committed to our Lord to deepen their faith. Their goal is to help kids become joyful, victorious, and mature disciples of God. A couple of months ago, our high school group went on a trip with GTD to Ocala National Forest. We camped out near a fire, and then spent an entire day rappelling and exploring caves. This was a genuine group building, faith building, and God building experience. Many of us learned to work together and overcome fears. The physical activity of rappelling down a 90-foot cliff with only a one inch thick rope and trust is an excellent analogy for our Christian walk. The experience of crawling around through a very narrow cave 25 feet under the ground also involves a lot of teamwork and trust. This spring I am planning another trip for our Middle School kids. Going The Distance's five F's are focus, freedom, fun, fellowship, & faith. We all truly experienced each of them."
"I would like to share with you an amazing ministry our youth group is now involved in. It is called Going The Distance Adventure Ministry. Their mission is to use outdoor adventures to introduce kids to a personal relationship with Jesus, and for kids already committed to our Lord to deepen their faith. Their goal is to help kids become joyful, victorious, and mature disciples of God. A couple of months ago, our high school group went on a trip with GTD to Ocala National Forest. We camped out near a fire, and then spent an entire day rappelling and exploring caves. This was a genuine group building, faith building, and God building experience. Many of us learned to work together and overcome fears. The physical activity of rappelling down a 90-foot cliff with only a one inch thick rope and trust is an excellent analogy for our Christian walk. The experience of crawling around through a very narrow cave 25 feet under the ground also involves a lot of teamwork and trust. This spring I am planning another trip for our Middle School kids. Going The Distance's five F's are focus, freedom, fun, fellowship, & faith. We all truly experienced each of them."
Webmaster
September 4, 2009
Past email received from Pastor Sam Peters of Wheelersburg, OH:
"In the summer of 2002 I took our youth group from Ohio on their first GTD adventure trip. We hooked up with my daughter and son-in-law's youth group from Florida and met in Blairsville, GA. Just prior to leaving Ohio for the trip a mother of one of our youth approached me. Her youngest son hadn't signed up for the trip. He wasn't very athletic, so I assumed it was because he didn't think he'd enjoy himself. Mom came to me nearly in tears and asked if it were too late for her son to go. She went on to say that earlier in the week the son confided to her that he wanted to kill himself because he didn't fit in and that he had no friends. The family had very little money, but fortunately, another family had given me money the day before in case there were any teens that needed help going. Needless to say, we found room for her son on the van and he went on the trip with us. While riding down to Georgia, I asked him what his goal was for the trip. He said he was kind of anti-social and just hoped he could make a friend. I didn't let him know I knew what had happened the week before, but I could hardly choke back the emotion from his very honest confession. I prayed that God would indeed help him make a friend. After four grueling days of hiking, rafting, climbing and blisters, the teens gathered around the camp fire the last night and shared their testimonies. I cannot tell you how blessed I was when one of the Florida teens shared that they had hoped to make a friend that week and acknowledged my troubled teen from Ohio as that friend. Lives were changed that weekend, including mine. God answers prayer."
"In the summer of 2002 I took our youth group from Ohio on their first GTD adventure trip. We hooked up with my daughter and son-in-law's youth group from Florida and met in Blairsville, GA. Just prior to leaving Ohio for the trip a mother of one of our youth approached me. Her youngest son hadn't signed up for the trip. He wasn't very athletic, so I assumed it was because he didn't think he'd enjoy himself. Mom came to me nearly in tears and asked if it were too late for her son to go. She went on to say that earlier in the week the son confided to her that he wanted to kill himself because he didn't fit in and that he had no friends. The family had very little money, but fortunately, another family had given me money the day before in case there were any teens that needed help going. Needless to say, we found room for her son on the van and he went on the trip with us. While riding down to Georgia, I asked him what his goal was for the trip. He said he was kind of anti-social and just hoped he could make a friend. I didn't let him know I knew what had happened the week before, but I could hardly choke back the emotion from his very honest confession. I prayed that God would indeed help him make a friend. After four grueling days of hiking, rafting, climbing and blisters, the teens gathered around the camp fire the last night and shared their testimonies. I cannot tell you how blessed I was when one of the Florida teens shared that they had hoped to make a friend that week and acknowledged my troubled teen from Ohio as that friend. Lives were changed that weekend, including mine. God answers prayer."
Webmaster
September 4, 2009
Past email received from Ashley Lamb:
"My favorite GTD trip was the swamp hike in 2001. We walked through 30 miles of swamp and I am a cheerleader. I don't usually like mud, seaweed or animals. I will never forget having a ton of seaweed (swampweed) wrapped around my ankles so much that my socks were swollen with mud and grossness. lol.. I dont like bugs either and I learned to get over it very quickly. This was a life changing trip for me. I gained appreciation for the sky and God's majesty. When I would get frusterated and wanted to stop walking I would look up at the clouds and pray and I would feel God's peace. I often felt exhausted and tired like I couldnt possibly take another step but I knew I was in the middle of the swamp and i couldnt exactly stay there. I learned to be persistant and determined and honnestly God would and can get me through anything I allow Him to, because of His beautiful majesty. This was only one of the great experiences I've been blessed to enjoy because of GTD. I also have learned to face many fears and gain confidence in the Lord in my life and trials in my life through all the other trips I went on. The swamp was the most life impacting for me though. It was the first time I experienced God's presence in the midst of a trial since I rededicated my life to God in August of 2001. Thank you for the awesome memories!!!!"
"My favorite GTD trip was the swamp hike in 2001. We walked through 30 miles of swamp and I am a cheerleader. I don't usually like mud, seaweed or animals. I will never forget having a ton of seaweed (swampweed) wrapped around my ankles so much that my socks were swollen with mud and grossness. lol.. I dont like bugs either and I learned to get over it very quickly. This was a life changing trip for me. I gained appreciation for the sky and God's majesty. When I would get frusterated and wanted to stop walking I would look up at the clouds and pray and I would feel God's peace. I often felt exhausted and tired like I couldnt possibly take another step but I knew I was in the middle of the swamp and i couldnt exactly stay there. I learned to be persistant and determined and honnestly God would and can get me through anything I allow Him to, because of His beautiful majesty. This was only one of the great experiences I've been blessed to enjoy because of GTD. I also have learned to face many fears and gain confidence in the Lord in my life and trials in my life through all the other trips I went on. The swamp was the most life impacting for me though. It was the first time I experienced God's presence in the midst of a trial since I rededicated my life to God in August of 2001. Thank you for the awesome memories!!!!"